Crust fracturing implement

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for fracturing a crust on an agricultural field includes a tool bar and a support attached to the tool bar. A plurality of discs are non-rotatably attached to an axle that is rotatably supported by the support. Each of the plurality of discs include a plurality of spaced apart teeth about the perimeter of each disc. The teeth comprise convex surfaces and concave surfaces that converge at distal ends where the plurality of discs rotate about the support such that the convex surfaces penetrate and fracture the crust and that any debris or trash picked up by the teeth is ejected by the angles of the teeth and angles of the support brackets preventing plugging and destruction of the rowed crop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a farm implement. More particularly,the present invention relates to a farm implement that fractures a cruston soil.

A typical method of preparing a field for planting crops includes usinga moldboard plow or a chisel plow to work the ground after a harvest tobury crop residue and other debris in the soil. The following spring aseed bed is prepared in the field by tilling the soil and therebyloosening the soil, breaking up clumps of dirt and also leveling thesurface. After the seed bed is prepared the crops are planted, typicallyin rows.

Another method of planting crops includes a “no-till” method. Using ano-till method includes leaving the soil unworked from the previousseason with the crop residue or debris remaining on the surface of thefield. Prior to planting the crop, the soil is tilled, typically with atandem disc implement to cut the debris and prepare the seed bed. Thecrops are planted into the soil through the debris where the debris aidsin preventing erosion.

A hazardous time for the seedlings occurs when a rain falls on the seedbed and creates a crust. If the crust is sufficiently thick, theseedlings may not be able to penetrate the crust and may subsequentlydie in the ground. If the seedlings is able to penetrate the crust, finesoil particles on top of the crust may be blown by the wind which mayalso harm the seedlings.

Typical farm implements that have been used to fracture the crust on arecently planted field include a rotary hoe. A rotary hoe includes anumber of discs that have teeth around the perimeter. The teeth have atleast one concave surface and another surface that typically form apoint at a distal end. As the discs rotate the point and the concavesurface penetrate, fracture and lift the crust such that if theseedlings find the penetrated, fractured and lifted crust, they are ableto emerge to the surface. The rotary hoe also creates an uneven surfacesuch that the fine particles are not blown into the seedlings.

However as the teeth rotate out of the soil, the concave surface has atendency of carrying debris such as stocks or other crop residue,sticks, wire and/or rocks out of the soil and into an entanglement withother discs. The entanglement of the debris with the discs causes thediscs to stop rotating and cease effectively breaking the crust. Toremove the entanglement, the farmer must stop the tractor used to towthe rotary how, and manually remove the entanglement. Having to stop thetractor causes the farmer to use more time than necessary to work thefield and thereby causes inefficencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes an apparatus that is used to fracture acrust on an agricultural field. The apparatus includes a support thatattaches to a tool bar. The support rotatably supports an axle having aplurality of discs non-rotatably attached to the axle. Each discincludes a plurality of spaced apart teeth about a perimeter of eachdisc. The teeth comprise convex surfaces and concave surfaces thatconverge at distal ends. The plurality of discs rotate about the supportin a direction such that the distal end and the convex surfaces engagethe crust.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crust fracturing implement of thepresent invention being towed by a prime mover.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a unit of the crust fracturing implement of thepresent invention attached to a tool bar of a pull-behind rowcultivator.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the unit of the crust fracturing implement ofthe present invention attached to the tool bar of the pull behind rowcultivator.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an outside arm having an angled surface forejecting trash and debris from the discs of the crust fracturing unit ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a disc of a crust fracturing unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A crust fracturing implement of the present invention is generallyillustrated in FIG. 1 at 10. The crust fracturing implement 10 is towedby a tractor 12 or any other prime mover and fractures the crust on afield while significantly reducing if not eliminating debris frombecoming entangled within discs 20 of a crust fracturing unit 18. Thecrust fracturing implement 10 includes a plurality of crust fracturingunits 18 that typically correspond to the number of rows of a planterthat was used to plant the field.

The crust fracturing implement 10 typically is a pull behind rowcultivator 14 that is modified into the crust fracturing implement 10 ofthe present invention by removing the spring shanks (not shown) thatsupport shovels (not shown) from each gang 15. While modifying a pullbehind row cultivator 14 is typical, the crust fracturing implement 10of the present invention may be manufactured as a separate implement orby modifying other pieces of equipment.

The shovels (not shown) are typically utilized to uproot and kill weedsthat sprout up between the rows of the crops. However, the shovels tendto break up the crust into larger chunks which may uproot the youngseedlings or cover the row of seedlings with additional soil which mayalso kill the young seedlings. Further having the shovels tilling thesoil would inhibit the ground speed at which the crust fracturingimplement 10 operates effectively, typically in the range of betweenabout 5 miles per hour and about 8 miles per hour.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each crust fracturing unit 18 is typicallymounted to a tool bar 16 where the tool bar 16 is mounted to a mainframe 13 of the cultivator 14. The tool bar 16 is typically securedsubstantially along a length of the cultivator 14 and typically supportscutting discs (not shown) that penetrate the soil proximate the rows andmove the soil away from the rows and thereby uprooting weeds withoutharming the rows of crops. With the cutting discs removed from the toolbar 16, a substantially vertical shank 22 of a support 23 is securedwithin a bore in a mounting bracket 24 that previously supported thecutting discs (not shown). A typical shank 22 is a solid member having arectangular cross-section approximately ¾″ by 3″ that is positionedwithin the bore in the mounting bracket 24. The shank 22 is secured in aselected position with a set screw 26 that threadably engages a threadedbore in the mounting bracket 24 to frictionally secure the shank 22 inthe selected position. While a ¾″ by 3″ rectangular shank 22 is typical,any configured shank that mounts to any mounting bracket is within thescope of the present invention.

The support 23 includes left and right substantially horizontal members33, 35 that are pivotally secured to the shank 22 with a bolt 31positioned through aligned apertures in each of the left and rightsupports 33, 35 and an aperture located proximate a distal end of theshank 22. Left and right inside arms 27,28 are welded to distal ends ofthe members 33, 35, respectively. The arms 27, 28 have a similarconfiguration including an arcuate portion 32 proximate a distal end 34.

Left and right outside arms 26,29 are aligned with the left and rightinside arms 27,28 and are secured in selected positions with a plate 31.The plate 31 is fixedly attached proximate the seam created by the leftand right supports 33, 35 and the left and right inside arms 27, 28,respectively. Proximal ends of the left and right outside arms 26,29 arefixedly attached to the plate 31.

Referring to FIG. 4, the left and right outside arms 26,29 are similarlyconstructed and have the same arcuate configuration as the left andright inside arms 27,28. The outside arms 26, 29 include apertures 33that accept bearings (not shown). The left and right arms 27,28 alsoinclude apertures that align with the apertures 33 in the left and rightoutside arms 26, 29.

Each arm 26, 27, 28, 29 includes a back portion that extends toward theperimeter of the discs 20. An arcuate surface 37 of the back portion 35engages debris that is carried by the discs 20 and discharges the debrisfrom the crust fracturing unit 18. As the discs 20 rotate, the anglecreated between the arcuate surface 37 and teeth 42 spaced around thedisc 20 is typically between about 80° and about 130°. The relativelylarge angle between the arcuate surface 37 and the teeth 42 causes anydebris to be discharged from the unit 18 such that the discs 20 freelyrotate therein, unlike a typical rotary hoe which creates a relativelysmall angle between the teeth of the disc and the support which tends tobind the discs of a typical rotary hoe.

Referring to FIG. 5, the discs 20 are positioned between the arms26,27,28,29 in an alternating fashion and are retained between the arms26,27,28,29 with an axle 38 positioned through the bearings (not shown).Preferably the axle 38 has a substantially hexagonal cross-sectioned midportion 39 that engages a substantially hexagon-shaped aperture 40substantially centrally located on each disc 20. The engagement of theflat surfaces on the axle 38 with the flat surfaces of the aperture 40prevent the disc from rotating about the axle 38. While a hexagon shapedaperture 40 and axle 38 are typical, any mechanism that prevents thediscs 20 from rotating on the axle 38 is within the scope of the presentinvention including any polygonal configuration, at least onenon-arcuate surface on the shaft 38 and the aperture 40 and a weld.

The axle 38 is retained within the bearing (not shown) with a threadedengagement of nuts with threaded ends 37 of the axle 38 as bestillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, other retaining mechanisms arewithin the scope of the present invention including a cotter pin, aroller pin, a spring loaded pin within a collar, and a bolt with alocking nut and washers.

Typically each unit 18 includes five discs 20 that are separated by thefour arms 26,27,28,29. However it is within the scope of the presentinvention for a unit to include two or more discs and at least one arm.

Each disc 20 typically has sixteen substantially evenly spaced teeth 42positioned about a perimeter of the disc 20. While a disc with sixteensubstantially evenly spaced teeth 42 is typical a disc with more or lessthan sixteen teeth are within the scope of the present invention. A disc20 with teeth having a non-uniform length are also within the scope ofthe present invention.

Each tooth includes a convex surface 44 and a concave surface 46 thatconverge at a distal end 48. Preferably the distal end 48 includes aflat or angular surface 50 that penetrates the crust substantially in achiseling manner as the disc 20 is rotated. A typical angle of thesurface includes an angle of about 15°. However a pointed distal end 48or other configured distal ends are within the scope of the presentinvention.

The discs 20 are typically positioned on the shaft 38 such that only onetooth 42 penetrates the crust at one time. Staggering the position ofthe teeth relative to each other aids in penetrating and fracturing thecrust. While only one tooth typically penetrates the crust at a time, itshould be understood that more than one tooth 42 will be in the soil atany time.

The discs 20 and the axle 38 rotate in the direction of arrow 52, asillustrated in FIG. 2, such that the angular surface 50 and the convexsurface 44 fracture the crust. Fracturing the crust with the convexsurface 44 forces any crop debris or residue, rocks, sticks or otherobstacle into the ground such that as the tooth exits the ground thedebris tends to remain in the ground thereby leaving the discs to freelyrotate. The combination of the angular surface 50 and the convex surface44 engaging and penetrating the crust along with the positioning of thearms 26,27,28,29 between the discs 20 prevents debris from becomingentangled with the discs 20 such that a field can be fractured withoutunnecessary interruption.

Because the convex surfaces 44 of the teeth 42 engage the crust, eachunit 18 must provide a sufficient amount of force for the teeth 42 topenetrate the crust. A typical unit 18 with five discs 20 and four arms26,27,28,29 weighs about fifty pounds which in most instances willprovide enough force for the angular surface 50 and the convex surface44 to penetrate the crust.

If additional force is necessary, a coil spring 60 is positioned aboutthe bolt 31 on each end where a proximal end 62 of the coil springengages the shank 22 and a distal end 64 engages the plate. The coilspring 60 applies a downward force typically in the range of five to tenpounds on the discs 20 and aids the teeth 42 in penetrating the crust.However, a coil spring is not necessary to practice the presentinvention.

The coil spring 60 also provides the additional benefit of retaining theteeth 42 in the ground when the unit 18 contacts an obstacle. Withoutthe coil spring 60, the unit 18 would have a tendency of raising whenencountering a larger rock or clump of soil which would result in theteeth 42 disengaging the crust.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. An apparatus for fracturing a crust on an agricultural fieldcomprising: a tool bar; a support for attaching to the tool bar; an axlerotatably supported by the support proximate a distal end thereof; and aplurality of discs non-rotatably attached to the axle and wherein eachdisc comprises a plurality of spaced apart teeth about a perimeter ofeach disc and wherein the teeth comprise convex surfaces and concavesurfaces that converge to distal ends and wherein as the plurality ofdiscs rotate about the support at the convex surfaces penetrates andfractures the crust.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the supportcomprises a plurality of arms having distal ends that rotatably supportthe axle and where the plurality of arms are positioned between theplurality of discs.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising acoil engaging the support for urging the plurality of discs into thecrust.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the axle comprises atleast one flat surface.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 and wherein each ofthe plurality of discs comprises a substantially centrally locatedaperture having a perimeter with at least one flat surface that engagesthe flat surface of the axle to prevent the plurality of discs fromrotating on the axle.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the axlecomprises a plurality of flat surfaces.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 andwherein the each of the plurality of discs comprises a substantiallycentrally located aperture having a perimeter with a plurality of flatsurfaces that engage the plurality of flat surfaces on the axle toprevent the plurality of discs from rotating on the axle.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1 and wherein the plurality of discs are attached tothe axle such that only one tooth penetrates the crust at a time.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1 and wherein the plurality of disc comprises morethan four discs.
 10. A method of converting a row crop cultivator intoan apparatus for fracturing a crust on a field planted in rows, themethod comprising: providing a row crop cultivator having a main beamhaving a plurality of gangs attached thereto and wherein the gangscomprise a plurality of spring shanks and a plurality of disc openersattached to the cultivator and having a tilling shovel attached to eachspring shank and comprising a tool bar attached to the main beam;removing the plurality of disc openers and the plurality of springshanks with the tilling shovels from each gang; and attaching aplurality of crust penetrating units to the tool bar wherein each of thecrust penetrating units comprises a plurality of discs non-rotatablyattached to an axle that is supported by a support of the crustpenetrating unit and wherein each disc comprises a plurality of spacedapart teeth about a perimeter of each disc and wherein the teethcomprise convex surfaces and concave surfaces that converge to distalends and wherein as the plurality of discs rotate the distal ends andthe convex surfaces of the teeth and penetrate the crust to fracture thecrust between the rows of the planted crops.
 11. The method of claim 10and further comprising frictionally securing a shank of the supportstructure of each unit to the tool bar.
 12. The method of claim 11 andfurther comprising positioning a plurality of arms between the pluralityof discs to engage and dislodge debris carried by the discs and therebyallow the discs to freely rotate.
 13. The method of claim 10 and furthercomprising biasing the plurality of discs into the ground with a coilspring engaging the support.
 14. The method of claim 10 and furthercomprising positioning the plurality of discs on the axle such that onlyone tooth penetrates the crust at a time.